1:72 RAF Accumulator Trolley

RAF Accumulator Trolley (1:72, Special Hobby)

A detailed resin (3D-printed) set in 1:72 scale showing the airfield trolley with batteries, the accumulator trolley used by the ground crews of the Royal Air Force. It is not an airplane model but an accessory for aircraft dioramas and scenes beside an aircraft. Besides the trolley itself the package holds a figure of a member of the ground crew, so the set brings the space around a parked aircraft to life at once.

The real subject

A starter trolley with batteries was common equipment on British airfields from the 1930s through the Second World War and after it. It served as a mobile source of electrical power for turning over and starting aero engines and for feeding the onboard systems. It is exactly this seemingly unremarkable equipment that gives aircraft scenes the authentic atmosphere of a working airfield.

Building and painting tips

Separate the fine resin parts carefully from the print supports, as some parts are fragile. Wash the residue off the parts and bond them with super glue (cyanoacrylate). Once assembled, apply a primer and spray the set; light dirt with washes and pigments and fine rubbing on the exposed edges add realism.

Who the set is for

• Builders of aircraft dioramas and vignettes in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want to fill out the scene around a parked RAF aircraft
• Anyone interested in airfield ground equipment and accessories

This is a detail set, not an airplane model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; paints and glue are not included in the package.